Rue21 Inc. Stock Upgraded (RUE)

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- rue21 (Nasdaq:RUE) has been upgraded by TheStreet Ratings from hold to buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, solid stock price performance, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows weak operating cash flow.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• RUE's revenue growth has slightly outpaced the industry average of 12.8%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues rose by 16.9%. This growth in revenue appears to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, improving the earnings per share.
• Investors have apparently begun to recognize positive factors similar to those we have mentioned in this report, including earnings growth. This has helped drive up the company's shares by a sharp 35.24% over the past year, a rise that has exceeded that of the S&P 500 Index. Turning to the future, naturally, any stock can fall in a major bear market. However, in almost any other environment, the stock should continue to move higher despite the fact that it has already enjoyed nice gains in the past year.
• RUE21 INC has improved earnings per share by 16.1% in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. The company has demonstrated a pattern of positive earnings per share growth over the past two years. We feel that this trend should continue. During the past fiscal year, RUE21 INC increased its bottom line by earning $1.56 versus $1.22 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($1.85 versus $1.56).
• The net income growth from the same quarter one year ago has greatly exceeded that of the S&P 500, but is less than that of the Specialty Retail industry average. The net income increased by 18.5% when compared to the same quarter one year prior, going from $7.67 million to $9.09 million.
• 39.40% is the gross profit margin for RUE21 INC which we consider to be strong. It has increased from the same quarter the previous year. Regardless of the strong results of the gross profit margin, the net profit margin of 4.50% trails the industry average.

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rue21, inc. operates as a specialty apparel retailer in the United States. It provides fashion apparel and accessories for girls and guys, including graphic T-shirts, denim, dresses, shirts, hoodies, belts, jewelry, handbags, footwear, intimate apparel, and other accessories. The company has a P/E ratio of 18.8, equal to the average retail industry P/E ratio and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Rue21 has a market cap of $757.3 million and is part of the services sector and retail industry. Shares are up 50% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

You can view the full rue21 Ratings Report or get investment ideas from our investment research center.

-- Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

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For more information on rue21 Inc. click any of the following:

• rue21 Inc. Stock Price

• rue21 Inc. Analyst Ratings

• rue21 Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• rue21 Inc. Earnings

• rue21 Inc. Ratio Comparison

• rue21 Inc. Growth Rates

• rue21 Inc. Balance Sheet

• rue21 Inc. Cash Flow

• rue21 Inc. Income Statement